McElmurry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

A Strathclyde-Briton family from the Scottish/English Borderlands was the first to use the surname McElmurry. It is a name for a devotee of the Virgin Mary. Looking back further, we find the name McElmurry was originally derived from the Gaelic Gille Moire, which means follower of Mary.

Early Origins of the McElmurry family

The surname McElmurry was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Early records from Cumberland show that between 1133 and 1156, Gilmor, son of Gilander founded the chapelry of Treverman (later Trierman) in the parish of Walton, Cumberland, site of Triermain castle. Gilmore meaning "Gill the Big" was son of Gillanders the great Chief who lived about 1140.

Early History of the McElmurry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McElmurry research.Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1250, 1605, 1671, 1661 and 1671 are included under the topic Early McElmurry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McElmurry Spelling Variations

The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. McElmurry has been spelled Gilmour, Gilmore, Gilmur, Gilmor, Gilmer and many more.

Early Notables of the McElmurry family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early McElmurry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McElmurry family to Ireland

Some of the McElmurry family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McElmurry family to the New World and Oceana

The persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them:

McElmurry Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Allen R. McElmurry, aged 23, who arrived in America, in 1919

Contemporary Notables of the name McElmurry (post 1700)

Shawn McElmurry, American Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Wayne State University

Blaine Richard McElmurry (b. 1973), American former NFL football safety who played from 1997 to 2002, NFC Champion (1997)

The McElmurry Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Perseveranti dabiturMotto Translation: It will be given to the persevering.